BMW 1 Series - only for small people

[mcelliott]

I really like the 1 series, but it just won't take a push bike in the boot. We're looking at changing our S4 estate but the Beemer is just too darn small. So, Golf estate it is then...

[anonymous-user]

mcelliott said:

I really like the 1 series, but it just won't take a push bike in the boot. We're looking at changing our S4 estate but the Beemer is just too darn small. So, Golf estate it is then...

They go in with the wheels off. I fitted a Thule tow mount rack to mine and it was brilliant, blasted the mud off on the way back from the woods

[thebraketester]

I like the 1 series but I cannot get comfortable in the seats. The floor seems too high and I hate the bmw "lever" adjusters, they are such a crap design. I also don't like the lack of right foot resting space i.e there is none.

Shame because they drive great.

[Mr Tidy]

lord trumpton said:

Yeah I'm a big bloke; but not a fat bd. I spent ages in the gym in my earlier years and have a broad back - my arse is comfy in the seats; it's just the backrest that pinches my back.

I guess I'm a powerfully built company director

Edited by lord trumpton on Monday 1st August 16:26

Fair play - I'm definitely NOT a powerfully built company director so the seats worked fine for me! (Oops, I probably shouldn't be on PH in that case)!

[Leins]

OP, have you very long legs? (Proportionally wrt your body)

Kawasicki said:

1 series small? In the driver passenger seat they feel like a 3 series to me.

Aren't people expecting a lot of space these days?

I'm sure quite a few of the 80's three series (e30) were above 6 foot tall and got on just fine. Compared to the e30 the current 1 series is massive inside.

An E30 was a bit of a tighter driving position for me, but still manageable. Drove mine down through France a couple of years ago with no great issue, and it had a sunroof too. I agree that they're pretty small compared to a modern 1-series driving position though

[RobM77]

The limitation in interior space is down to the rear wheel drive layout; it's a compromise made to improve how the car drives. The driver and passenger sit with the gearbox between their legs, and the transmission tunnel runs from there to the back, with the diff at the very back taking up more space. All of these things massively improve the weight distribution compared to the more typical modern FWD layout, and if you like driving the difference is obvious.

So, generally speaking, if you want space, you have a choice to buy a front wheel drive car; but if you want front engined rear wheel drive, then you'll have to compromise on space. This compromise is more obvious with a smaller car.

Sadly, the consumer won't be able to make this choice for much longer because BMW have listened to the market and designed a front wheel drive 1 series, to be launched soon. I think this is a shame because I believe it's a good thing to have choice.

[Gompo]

I'm 6'4 and fit fine, seat is not all the way back. If you think they're tight your should try a Z4 Coupe! My first choice until I tried to sit in one..

[Craikeybaby]

RobM77 said:

The limitation in interior space is down to the rear wheel drive layout; it's a compromise made to improve how the car drives. The driver and passenger sit with the gearbox between their legs, and the transmission tunnel runs from there to the back, with the diff at the very back taking up more space. All of these things massively improve the weight distribution compared to the more typical modern FWD layout, and if you like driving the difference is obvious.

So, generally speaking, if you want space, you have a choice to buy a front wheel drive car; but if you want front engined rear wheel drive, then you'll have to compromise on space. This compromise is more obvious with a smaller car.

Sadly, the consumer won't be able to make this choice for much longer because BMW have listened to the market and designed a front wheel drive 1 series, to be launched soon. I think this is a shame because I believe it's a good thing to have choice.

This. It is a trade off between handling and space, personally I prefer handling, and put up with the lack of legroom in the passenger seat when sat infront of my son in his rear facing car seat.

[Leins]

RobM77 said:

The limitation in interior space is down to the rear wheel drive layout; it's a compromise made to improve how the car drives. The driver and passenger sit with the gearbox between their legs, and the transmission tunnel runs from there to the back, with the diff at the very back taking up more space. All of these things massively improve the weight distribution compared to the more typical modern FWD layout, and if you like driving the difference is obvious.

So, generally speaking, if you want space, you have a choice to buy a front wheel drive car; but if you want front engined rear wheel drive, then you'll have to compromise on space. This compromise is more obvious with a smaller car.

Sadly, the consumer won't be able to make this choice for much longer because BMW have listened to the market and designed a front wheel drive 1 series, to be launched soon. I think this is a shame because I believe it's a good thing to have choice.

But Rob, I don't believe any of that is particularly relevant in the case of the OP. Yes BMWs aren't great for rear seat space, but they are one of the best at allowing the drivers seat drop low and far back. In fact only this weekend I drove 700 miles in an F30, and didn't have the seat pushed all the way back

The OP is stating that there is not enough room in a 1-series for him as a driver, and that the steering wheel and seats do not adjust adequately to allow free movement of his legs. I am taller than the OP, and have no such issues with any 1-series, including the latest one, so it leads me to conclude one of the following:

- The OP has disproportionately longer legs than most people I know at that height (6'5), and they are also longer than my legs (at 6'8)
- The OP has extremely wide thighs
- The car's seats & steering wheel were not fully adjusted to allow maximum space for the driver (e.g. was the thigh support extended?; was the seat-base tilted too far back?)
- The 1-series he drove was different to any I have driven
- The OP requires a vastly different driving position to the one I use

But regardless, to state that BMWs are only designed for small people to drive is wildly wide of the mark IMO

[daveco]

Is there anyone on pistonheads who is less than 6 foot?

[thebraketester]

daveco said:

Is there anyone on pistonheads who is less than 6 foot?

Yeah, those are the ones that cut hair and drive mx5s

[RobM77]

Gompo said:

I'm 6'4 and fit fine, seat is not all the way back. If you think they're tight your should try a Z4 Coupe! My first choice until I tried to sit in one..

I'm 177cm (5'10" in old money) and had the seat almost as far back as it'll go . My 6'4" friend nearly broke the seat motor trying to put the seat back to get into the passenger side! I don't mean to gloat, but there was something very satisfying about owning and driving car that doesn't have any excess unused size and therefore weight .

[Sten.]

daveco said:

Is there anyone on pistonheads who is less than 6 foot?

I'm not suggesting for a second it's the case on PH but I've met many surprisingly small 6' plus people before

[RobM77]

Leins said:

RobM77 said:

The limitation in interior space is down to the rear wheel drive layout; it's a compromise made to improve how the car drives. The driver and passenger sit with the gearbox between their legs, and the transmission tunnel runs from there to the back, with the diff at the very back taking up more space. All of these things massively improve the weight distribution compared to the more typical modern FWD layout, and if you like driving the difference is obvious.

So, generally speaking, if you want space, you have a choice to buy a front wheel drive car; but if you want front engined rear wheel drive, then you'll have to compromise on space. This compromise is more obvious with a smaller car.

Sadly, the consumer won't be able to make this choice for much longer because BMW have listened to the market and designed a front wheel drive 1 series, to be launched soon. I think this is a shame because I believe it's a good thing to have choice.

But Rob, I don't believe any of that is particularly relevant in the case of the OP. Yes BMWs aren't great for rear seat space, but they are one of the best at allowing the drivers seat drop low and far back. In fact only this weekend I drove 700 miles in an F30, and didn't have the seat pushed all the way back

The OP is stating that there is not enough room in a 1-series for him as a driver, and that the steering wheel and seats do not adjust adequately to allow free movement of his legs. I am taller than the OP, and have no such issues with any 1-series, including the latest one, so it leads me to conclude one of the following:

- The OP has disproportionately longer legs than most people I know at that height (6'5), and they are also longer than my legs (at 6'8)
- The OP has extremely wide thighs
- The car's seats & steering wheel were not fully adjusted to allow maximum space for the driver (e.g. was the thigh support extended?; was the seat-base tilted too far back?)
- The 1-series he drove was different to any I have driven
- The OP requires a vastly different driving position to the one I use

But regardless, to state that BMWs are only designed for small people to drive is wildly wide of the mark IMO

Yes, you are quite correct (I have very long legs and short arms and like to sit very low with bent arms but only slightly bent legs, so I struggle in most cars, and I'm on my fifth BMW, which says a lot!). I just wanted to avoid controversy, so I was replying not to the OP, but to other people suggesting that BMWs are in general quite snug. Everything you say above is completely true.

[RobM77]

daveco said:

Is there anyone on pistonheads who is less than 6 foot?

I'm not sure what age you are, but the majority of people under 30 are 6 foot tall or taller. I'm 39 and at 5'10" I was pretty much the shortest in my class at school, despite being able to see over everyone's heads at the average concert or crowded place at the time.

[Leins]

RobM77 said:

Yes, you are quite correct (I have very long legs and short arms and like to sit very low with bent arms but only slightly bent legs, so I struggle in most cars, and I'm on my fifth BMW, which says a lot!). I just wanted to avoid controversy, so I was replying not to the OP, but to other people suggesting that BMWs are in general quite snug. Everything you say above is completely true.

Sorry Rob, yes just to clarify that I wasn't disagreeing with your points at all either! Most BMWs are indeed pretty rubbish compared to the competition for carrying rear-seat passengers due to the drivetrain layout

And Z3s & Z4s are indeed tiny inside regardless, but then so are most comparable 2-seat roadsters, with the exception of TVRs & SLKs IME

[shoestring7]

funkyrobot said:

Leins said:

I'm never entirely sure what people mean when they say a car has very little room in the drivers seat. For me it means I cannot physically operate the car, due to a lack of headroom or an inability to depress the clutch or turn the steering wheel. Perhaps others prefer a driving position whereby they have their arms fully outstretched and the seat on its highest setting (so as to see more of the front of the car?), in which case then yes, a 1-series is probably the wrong option and perhaps an X5 is required

Other than that, I struggle a bit to understand how someone can find fault with the range of adjustment available in a 1-series driving seat, which is far superior to the likes of a Megane or Focus (6'8, 17.5 stone)

Keep struggling.

In my case, I sat in the car and made all of the adjustments I could to move the seat down and away from the steering wheel. I then tried to push the steering wheel as high as it would go.

Result was steering wheel still touching the top of my thighs. I tried to change gear and wouldn't want to do this when actually driving. It felt like I was sat in a car designed for people smaller than me.

I'm probably nearer 6ft 5 than 6ft 4. Fit in my Mazda and even my fiancée's Polo absolutely fine. Even found a Micra K11 to be ok. New 1 series though? Nope.

For everyone who says they are shorter than me and can't understand, aren't you actually missing the point? You aren't the same height as me so it won't be the same.

Anyhow, I thought I'd start this thread with what I found. Sorry so many people struggle with it.

If you've got massive plates you'll probably struggle for room in the pedal area too - at least for a manual you will.

SS7

[R E S T E C P]

shoestring7 said:

If you've got massive plates you'll probably struggle for room in the pedal area too - at least for a manual you will.

I wear size 13 shoes and I never had an issue with our manual 1 Series. Nothing like a Corsa for example, where the clutch and brake are one pedal.

[shoestring7]

R E S T E C P said:

shoestring7 said:

If you've got massive plates you'll probably struggle for room in the pedal area too - at least for a manual you will.

I wear size 13 shoes and I never had an issue with our manual 1 Series. Nothing like a Corsa for example, where the clutch and brake are one pedal.

Possibly the M135 pedal box is smaller?

SS7

[GrizzlyBear]

The only trouble I had was the pedals were quite close together (118d, manual), anyone else find that? or is there a huge company director out there was size 52 feet proclaiming that he had no problem at all?

So much so I had to keep a pair of trainers in the boot, or the thing was awkward to drive. The only other car I have struggled with the pedals is a mid 90s corsa.

daveco said:

Is there anyone on pistonheads who is less than 6 foot?

Sorry, I am not less than 6 foot.. your quest must continue ...